When it was still assumed that Shas was going to be in the coalition, the chareidi party would have been instrumental in leveraging the outcome of the upcoming elections for new chief rabbis. It appears the dati leumi parties will support Rabbi Eliezer Igra, while the secular parties, Yisrael Beitenu and Yesh Atid will be backing Tzohar Rabbonim leader Rabbi David Stav.
Shas would have the supported the dati leumi candidate for the post of Ashkenazi chief rabbi in return for backing of Rabbi Yehuda Deri (Aryeh’s brother) or Rabbi Avraham Yosef (A son of Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef Shlita) for the post of Sephardi chief rabbi. Now, with Shas headed to opposition, the deal makers are concerned for the significant change in the political map may upset his and other deals in the works. This will significantly diminish the chances of the dati leumi candidate.
Several tens of people actually vote for the chief rabbis, including the Chief Rabbinate Council, rabbis serving as a rav of a city, dayanim, mayors, MKs and others. Needless to say Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef Shlita wields enormous power as many if not most of those voting will follow the Gadol Hador’s instructions.
Due to the breakdown in relations between Shas and the dati leumi community during the period of coalition talks, it is highly unlikely that Shas is going to cooperate with Bayit Yehudi or any other dati leumi community official. The same holds true for Yahadut Hatorah, which does not feel beholden to anyone after being shoved aside into opposition by the Bennett/Lapid agreement.
Srugim feels that while it appeared optimistic until the coalition talks broke down, it now appears that once again, the chances of having a chief rabbi will a kippa sruga is most unlikely.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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9 Responses
Can you tell me who writes these inane columns? It looks like soemone at the YWN_Israel desk is ventialting his wishes rather than reality. To end the column that “to have a chief rabbi with a kippah seruga is unlikely” is just poppycocks. There is not even a mention of the so-called chareidi candidate? Is there one? i wish your writers would leave their prejudices at home and just report.
#1 There are several hareidi candidates. Obviously the fan favorite is Rav Grossman shlita though.
I think YWN are spot on with this article, it’s obvious Shas in particular are resentful after Bayit Yehudi sided against the tzibur. That they would refuse to cooperate on this particular issue comes as no surprise.
#1- The names of several charedi candidates have been floated. If the column is ‘poppycock’ it is not the fault of YWN which, in this instance, is only reporting what was stated in a column published on the Srugim website.
As I am not familiar with most of the committee members who appoint the Chief Rabbis I have no opinion one way or the other, but given the fact that Sha”s has been in charge of the Ministry of Religious Affairs for so many years it is certainly reasonable to believe that many of the voting members on the committee owe allegiance to Sha”s.
My dear Rabbi of Berlin,
I always read your comments as they invariably bring a smile. I wonder if you really believe what you write or if you are a troll (someone who purposely comments in a manner that invokes others to react harshly).
With a little bit of understanding of the Israeli mentality and culture, you would appreciate that a deal between Shas and Mafdal has almost no chance of being beaten and therefore there will be no chareidi Rabbi foolish enough to stand for the position just to be trounced. This article is pointing out that now the options are open and many will try to build up support. Obvious choices are Rabbi Yisroel Meir Lau shlita, his son, the Rov of Modiin, Rabbi Grossman of Migdal Haemek etc. The writer is pointing out that Shas will now almost certainly support anyone that Yahadut HaTorah wants against any DL Rabbi and they have a good chance of winning.
Keep well Rabbi and keep commenting, I enjoy them!
this is supposed to be news source not a commentary… articles that come out of israel on YWN are 1 sided biased and arent factual
One should remember that a simple majority of the Kenesset can totally change the way the government rabbis are chosen, their duties, and could even abolish the office altogether.
Israel is clearly undergoing a transition, and how new alliances will develop is highly speculative.
To RamatShilo
SO you feel that YWN is as good as the NY Times?
Maybe YWN may be in line for a few Pulitzer prizes also!
“it’s obvious Shas in particular are resentful after Bayit Yehudi sided against the tzibur”
Why would HaBayit HaYehudi side with Shas after Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef called them a “party of gentiles”? For that matter, why would Shas want to cooperate with a “party of gentiles”?
Obviously much of what comes from the keyboard of Mr. YWN – Israel Desk falls into the categories of wishful thinkful and biased commentary. That said, I think the entire issue of who should be next chief rabbi parallels what is going on with the attempts to build a govt. coalition. On the one side you have those forces that want to maintain the unsustainable status quo and on the other side you have forces that seek to make positive changes before it is too late.
Those of us who care about the Rabbanut see it as a means of keeping even secular Israelis at least somewhat within the halachic framework. Perhaps even more importantly, we realize that for many secular Israelis their appreciation or chas v’shalom disregard for Yahadus may well hinge on their interface with the Rabbanut.
Those who despise the very notion of a “Zionist” Rabbanut yet want to be control it have shown time and again that for them it is little more than a power play. They have filled the ranks of the Rabbanut with their cronies who are often unqualified to be dayanim but serve as rubber stamp machmirim with little regard for the tzibbur they are supposed to serve.
Frankly I don’t know who among the various names being mentioned would be the best fit for Chief Rabbi. What I sadly suspect is that one will all of the necessary elements – a qualified posek, one independent of narrow political/hashkafic concerns and with a true concern for the entire spectrum of Amcha – is probably non-existent.